Portable ditch-dam.



A. GADWALLADBR.

PORTABLE DITGH DAM. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 27, 1911.r

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

cOLU'MlxA PLANOORAPH Co.. wAsHlNmaN. D. c.

` Patented May21, 191.2.A I

A. GADWALLADBR.

PORTABLE DITGH DAM. APPLICATION FILED JUN; 27, 1911.

` `Patented May 21, 1912.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

" WITNESSES Aronwfrs COLUMBIA FLANOGRAPM CD.. WASHINGTON. n. C.

kdown device of the arm,

ALEEED CAEWALLAEEE, oEisUsHNELL, ILLINOIS.

PORTABLE BITCH-DAM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Applieatonled June 27, 1911. Serial No. 635,560.

To all 'whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALFRED CADWALLADER, a citizen `of the United States, and a resident of Bushnell, in the county of McDonough, vState of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Portable Ditch- Dams, of which the'following is a specilication.

" My invention is an improvement in portable ditch dams, and has forits object the provision of a simple, inexpensive, easily transported, andl easily set and knocked character specified, especially adapted for use in irrigating, or in other conditons when a temporary, dam is required which will eii'ectually prevent the passage of the water.

In the drawings: of the improved dam; Fig. 2 is a top plan view; Fig. 3 is' a transverse vertical section; Fig. 4 is a partial front view; Figs. 5, 6 and 7 are sections on the lines 5 5, 6 6 and 7 7, respectively, of Fig. 1; and Fig. 8 is a partial section of the frame..

The present embodiment of the invention comprises a pipe or tubular bar composed of sections 1, 2 and 3 which is of a length to extend across the ditch4 to' be dammed, so

upon the banks at each side of the ditch. A substantially V-shaped frame, comprising a body 5 and integral arms 6 diverging from each other at an acute angle, is connected to the bar 3. The frame isrtubular,

having one side curved or convex, andthe said side is provided with a longitudinal slot. The arms of the frame are connected tothe bar 3 by means of bolts 8, passing through the arms on one side of the slot 7 and through the bar.' A nut k9 is threaded on to each bolt, and the rear side of each side is provided with spaced pairs of spaced Vluofs 10. Swinging bars 11 yand 11a are y 'hinged to the pairs of lugs, the end of each Abar being received between the members of a pair of lugs and connected thereto by a bolt 12. Each of the bars 11 (Fig. 7) is provided at its outer end with an integral hook 13, and a wing 14 in the form of a sheet of fabric material is supported by the frame f and bars 11 and 11a. The bars 11 are preferably channel bars, and each of the hooks 1s Thematerial of the wing is doubled at its free edge in the manner of a hem, as india longitudinalslot 23 f 6). The ends of the wingI A doubled portion. Figue 1 is a rear view that the ends of the pipe or bar may rest' that is, the side opposite thev convexk provided with atransverse opening 15.y

Patenteaiuay 21, 1912.

cated at 16, Fig. 7 and one section 17 of a' fastening device is arranged between the respective thicknesses of the doubled portion `adjacent to each hook. The other section, 18 of the*V fastener is arranged on the opposite side of the hook, and a threaded stem 19 engages both sections, passing through the opening 15. Y

l The bars 11'f1 are at the ends of the arms 6 of the frame and differ somewhat from the bars 11, being tubular in form, and each has.

in the face adjacent to the wing (Fig. are doubled at 24 and the doubled end is inserted in the slot of the adjacent bar, and

a rod 25 is inserted between the sides of theH The inner edge of the strip is also doubled upon itself at 21 (Fig. 3) and the edge of the doubled portion is inserted in the slot 7 of the frame 5 6. A

flexible rod 22 isfpassed between the sides of they doubled portion inside the tubular bar forming the frame to hold the covering in place.

The lugs 10, Fig. 8, have stems 26 separated from the lugs by'semi-spherical washers or collars 27and the stems are passed through openings in the yarms 6 of the frame 5 6 and are headed o'n the inside of the said arms, as indicated at 28. Bolts 12 are passed cotter pins 26a are passed through the bolts to hold them in place'. The respective thicknesses of doubled portion 15 of the wing'are secured together between adjacent bars 11 and 11a by meansy of other fasteners 17 A gate 29 is prov frame 5 6, the said gate being substantially V-shaped to fit theiframeand having its edges sharply beveled, as indicated at 30. A handle 31 is arranged in vertical position on the gate intermediate Vthe side edges thereof and-proj ecting above the upper edge thereof, and the saidhandle' is provided withy a notch-32 intermediate its' ends. A cross bar 33 is arranged transversely of the frame 5 6 at the level of the notch Vwhenv the gate is closed, and the notch is of such depth. that when the gate is in closed position the cross bar will enter the notch, per

mitting the edge of the gate to rest flat against the frame. When the cross bar is out of the notch the gate is held away from the frame. The notch has its upper vside perpendicular and the lower side inclined,

through the lugs and the bar, and,Y

ided for closing the y as shown in Fig. 3. Latches 34 are provided for holding the gate 29 in place during transportation. The latches are pivoted to the arms 6 of the frame 5 6 near the upper ends of the said arms, as indicated at 35.

The pipe or bar l-2h3 is, as before mentioned, sectional for convenience in transportation, and the sections are detachably connected by means of a reduced stem 36 on the sections l and 2 threaded into the adjacent end of the section 3 (Fig. 4).

In operation, the bar 3 is placed transversely of the ditch with the ends thereof resting on the banks. The V-shaped frame is placed with the bottom thereof rest-ing on the bottom of the ditch, as shown in Fig. 1.

The wing is then spread so that the covering rests against the sides and bottom of the bank, after which the gate 29 is closed. The water presses the covering closely against the walls of the ditch and holds the edges of the said covering tightly enough t0 prevent the Water flow. The bars 11a prevent the co-vering being pushed past the frame, and it will be evident that the improvement will fit a large number of different size ditches.

The device will fit any ditch large enough to receive the frame, and not of greater width than the distance between the ends of bars 11a. That is, the ditch must be somewhat narrower than the distance between the free ends of the bars when alined.

When worn out the covering may be easily replaced by a new one, since every part thereof is easily disengaged.

I claim:

l. In a device of the character specified, a sectional cross bar, a substantially V-shaped frame comprising a body adapted to rest against the bottom of a ditch, and armsl detachably connected at their respective inner ends with the cross bar, a wing of flexible material and of substantially Vshape having its inner edge connected to the frame, and rigid bars hinged to the frame and radiating therefrom, said wing having its outer edge connected tothe respective outer ends of the bars, each of the inner bars having a transverse opening at 'its outer end, the edges of the wing being doubled, a fastener for securing the wing to each inner bar, each fastener consisting of two sections, one section between the respective thicknesses of the doubled portion of the wing and the other section on the opposite side of the bar, and a threaded stem passing through the opening and engaging both sections, said frame and the outermost bars being tubular and having a longitudinal slot, the adjacent doubled portion of the wing being received in the slot, and a rod passing between the said portions in the frame and arms, a gate for closing the frame, said gate being vertically slidable, a cross bar between the arms of the frame, and a vertical bar on the gate having a notch for receiving the cross bar when the gate is closed.

2. In a device of the character specified, a sectional cross bar, l a substantially V-shaped frame comprising a body adapted to rest against the bottom of a ditch, and arms detachably connected at their respective inner ends with the cross bar, a wing of flexible material and of substantially V-shape having its inner edge connected to the frame, and rigid bars hinged to the frame and radiating therefrom, said wing having its outer edge connected to the respective outer ends of the bars, each of the inner bars having a transverse opening at its outer end, the edges of the wing being doubled, a fastener for securing the wing to each inner bar, each fastener consisting of two sections, one section between the respective thicknesses of the doubled portion of the wing and the other sect-ion on the opposite side of the bar, and a threaded stem passing through the opening and engaging both sections, said frame and the outermost bars being tubular and having a longitudinal slot, the adjacent doubled portion of the wing being received in the slot, and a rod passing between the said portions in the frame and bars, a gate for closing t-he frame, and means for preventing the gate from fitting against the frame when out of register therewith.

3. In a device of the character specified, a cross bar, a substantially V-shaped frame comprising a body adapted to rest against the bottom of a ditch, and arms detachably connected at their respective inner ends with the cross bar, a wing of flexible material and of substantially V-shape having its inner edge connected to the frame, and rigid bars hinged to the frame and radiating therefrom, said wing having its outer edge connected to the respective outer ends of the bars, each of the inner bars having a transverse opening at its outer end, the edges of the wing being doubled, a fastener for securing the wing to each inner bar, each fastener consisting of two sections, one section between the respective thicknesses of the doubled portion of the wing andthe other section on the opposite side of the bar, and a threaded stem passing through the opening and engaging both sect-ions, said frame and the outermost bars being tubular and having a longitudinal slot, the adjacent doubled portion of the wing being received in the slot, and a rod passing between the said portions in the frame and bars, and a gate for closing the frame.

4. In a device of the character specified, a cross bar, a substantially V-shaped frame comprising a body adapted to rest against the bottom of a ditch, and arms detachably connected at their respective inner ends With the cross bar, a Wing of flexible material and of substantially V-shape having its inner edge connected to the frame, and rigid bars hinged to the frame and radiating therefrom, said Wing having its outer edge connected to the respective outer ends of the bars, each of the inner bars having a transverse opening at its outer end, the edges of the Wing being doubled, a fastener for securing the Wing to each inner bar,

each fastener consisting of two sections, one section between the respective thicknesses of the doubled portion of theV Wing and the other section on the opposite side of the bar, and a threaded stem passing through the opening and engaging both sections, and a gate for closing the frame.

ALFRED GADWALLADER.

Witnesses:

RALPH CADWALLADER, J. B. BURGETT.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. 

